Climate change

Climate Change Act 2008

In 2008 the UK passed legislation introducing the world’s first long-term legally binding framework to tackle the dangers of climate change. The Climate Change Act 2008 sets a target for the UK to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 and at least 34% by 2020 against a 1990 baseline.

Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change

Bracknell Forest Council made a commitment to tackle the causes and effects of climate change at a local level by adopting the PDF file downloadNottingham Declaration on Climate Change (PDF, 162kb).

Climate Change Action Plan

The Council published its first PDF file downloadClimate Change Action Plan (PDF, 219kb) in October 2008 focussing mainly on short-term actions the Council could implement internally. A PDF file downloadprogress report (PDF, 105kb) was published in October 2009 and the action plan was updated in April 2010.

Carbon Management Plan

In 2008 the Council participated in the Carbon Trust’s Local Authority Carbon Management Programme. In 2009 the Council published a PDF file downloadCarbon Management Plan (PDF, 385kb) to reduce CO2 emissions from its own operations 25% from a 2007 baseline by 2013. This is forecast to save 16,261 t/CO2 and £4.4 million in energy costs against business as usual by 2013.

Climate Change Partnership

The Climate Change Partnership is part of the broader Bracknell Forest Partnership between Bracknell Forest Council and its statutory, business, voluntary and community sector partners. The Climate Change Partnership meets quarterly and welcomes representation from local organisations with an interest in tackling climate change.

Carbon Trust Standard

In November 2010 the Council achieved the Carbon Trust Standard, a mark of excellence in measuring, managing and reducing its carbon footprint.

Greenhouse Gas Reporting

In 2011 the Department for Energy and Climate Change asked all local authorities to publish their own greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with DEFRA guidelines based on the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

The following table will be updated by the end of July each year.

Bracknell Forest Council greenhouse gas emissions data for period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2012

   Tonnes of CO²e  Tonnes of CO²e Tonnes of CO²e 
  2011/12 2010/11 2009/10 Base year 
Scope 1  5,501 6,838 7,192
Scope 2 10,863 10,175 10,311
Scope 3  921 978 943 
Total gross emissions 17,285 17,911 18,446
Carbon offsets   -   -  -
Green tariff  -  -  -
Total annual net emissions 17,285 17,911  18,446

Intensity measurement "tonnes of CO2e per full time equivalents"

 6.22 6.72  6.72
 Scope 3 emissions include:

  • Staff business travel
  • School transport
  • Refuse vehicles